To complete this lesson, you can either watch the video below, read through the step-by-step instructions, or do both. Let’s begin!

For some small business owners, Xero will provide enough tools to handle their books all on their own. But, for many, it makes sense to use Xero in conjunction with experienced small business accountants who are also Xero experts, like those at Bookkeeper360.

Why It Is Important to Convert Your Existing Data From QuickBooks or Another Accounting Software

If you are currently using QuickBooks or another accounting software program to manage your books, there are 3 key reasons why you should consider converting your existing data:

1. Prior Period Comparison

Xero allows you to convert data for the last two fiscal years. This will give you the ability to run comparison financial reports such as income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements. Having the ability to compare the current year to previous years can help you to identify trends in income and expenses and other key areas that impact the bottom line. Note: If you want to convert more than two years worth of data, there are a few Xero partners that will do it for a cost. You can learn more here.

2. Faster than Starting from Scratch

By converting your existing data, Xero will transfer all of your information such as customers, suppliers, invoices and bills. This can save you a lot of time that you would have normally spent setting up your business from scratch. Note: If you did not do a good job of managing your books in your old system and you would prefer a fresh start then you should not convert inaccurate data. As the old adage goes “Garbage in, garbage out”. Head over to our How to Set Up Xero course which includes 15 video tutorials that will walk you through step by step on how to set up your business from scratch.

3. It’s Free!

As a business owner, we know how tight cash flow can be. Xero will convert your QuickBooks file for absolutely free! To ensure a successful conversion, there are a few steps that you need to take to prepare your QuickBooks file for the conversion. We will cover these next.

What File Requirements Must Be Met to Convert to Xero

In order for Xero to convert your data, your QuickBooks file must meet the following requirements:

You must have a US edition of QuickBooks Windows or Mac version that is 2007 or a newer version.

You currently use a US edition of QuickBooks Online.

You have never turned on the multi-currency feature in QuickBooks.

If you meet these requirements, then Xero will convert the current year and the previous fiscal year, if this information is in the QuickBooks file.

Example:

Let’s assume our fictitious company, Acme Web Pros Plus has 5 years worth of data in their QuickBooks file. As of June 2017, they have decided to start using Xero to keep their books. Xero will convert all of 2016 and January thru June 2017 over to Acme’s Xero account. Any data prior to January 2016 will not be converted. Instead, it will be summarized into the conversion balance as of 12/31/15. Check out our How to Set Up Account Balances video tutorial for more info on conversion balances.

If you meet all of the above requirements, keep reading to learn how to prepare your QuickBooks file for a successful conversion. However, if you do not meet all of the requirements, you should head over to our How to Set Up Xero course to learn how to setup your organization from scratch.

Checklist: How To Prepare Your QuickBooks File for Conversion to Xero

Complete outstanding tasks – Make sure all bank accounts have been reconciled and all open credits have been applied to their respective invoices/bills.

Clean up your data – If there are errors or inaccurate information that you have been meaning to fix, take care of it before converting your data. For example, if you need to update customers or suppliers contact information like phone number, address or email.

Chart of Accounts – The chart of accounts cannot have more than 699 accounts, including inactive accounts. If you have too many accounts, delete accounts that have never been used and merge any duplicate accounts.

Turn on account numbers – Unlike QuickBooks, Xero requires that account numbers (known as account codes in Xero) are used. By turning on this feature and assigning account numbers in your QuickBooks file, Xero will convert those accounts to account codes. Note: If you do not assign accounts in QuickBooks before converting the file, Xero will assign account codes to all accounts during the conversion.

Renumber sub-accounts – While QuickBooks uses sub-accounts, Xero has a flat account structure. Therefore, if you have sub-accounts on your QuickBooks chart of accounts, you will need to make sure that an account number has been assigned to each sub-account.

How To Upload Your QuickBooks File

Before we walk through the steps to upload your file, you must save it using the appropriate file type. Refer to the chart below on the acceptable file types and instructions on how to save the file.

File Types for Converting QuickBooks to Xero

QuickBooks Version

File Type for Upload

Follow these steps to save your file

Windows (US edition)

.QBB
.QBW

In QuickBooks, go to File>>Create Backup

Mac (US edition)

Convert file to Windows

In QuickBooks, go to File>>Backup to QuickBooks for Windows

QuickBooks Online (US edition)*You must use Windows Internet Explorer

QBXML

In QuickBooks Online:
1. Company Name>>Export Data
2. Get Started.
3. Select All Financial Data.
4. Select “create a local copy to keep on computer.”
5. Save as QBXML.

Follow the steps below to upload your QuickBooks file to Xero.

Step 1 – Sign up for a Xero Account & Activate your Account.

Click here to sign up for a Xero Account. You should see a screen similar to the one below.

Sign up & Activate your Xero Account

Provide your contact information, put a checkmark to confirm that you are not a robot, agree to the terms of use and click the “Get started” button when you are finished.

Step 2 – Open the Activation Email from Xero.

You should receive an email from Xero. Open it up and do the following:

Click the activation link in the email.

Create a password.

Click the “Activate your Account” button.

Step 3 – Add your Organization to Xero.

Complete the fields below and click the “Convert your QuickBooks file for free” link as indicated in the screenshot below.

Add a New Organization to Xero.

Step 4 – Confirm That You Are Using QuickBooks.

In the screenshot below, confirm that you are currently using QuickBooks.

Start QuickBooks File Conversion to Xero.

Currently using QuickBooks? – Put a checkmark in this box to indicate that you have a QuickBooks file that you would like to convert.

Step 5 – Provide Info for QuickBooks File Conversion.

Next, you will provide the necessary info and upload your QuickBooks file as indicated in the screenshot below.

Convert QuickBooks to Xero Conversion Process

Choose File – Click the “choose file” button and attach your QuickBooks file. Note: Be sure it is in one of the acceptable formats that we discussed earlier (.qbw,.qbb and .qbxml).

File password – If your QuickBooks file has a password, you will need to check this box and enter the administrative user id and password for the file. You will not be able to convert the file without the administrator’s user id and password. Note: In general, if you are the only user, then you are also the administrator.

Terms of Use – Check this box to agree to the terms of use.

Continue – Click the “Continue” button once you have attached your file and completed all of the info.

Step 6 – Let Xero Do the Rest.

After you click the Continue button, the process of converting your QuickBooks file will begin, as indicated in the screenshot below.

Once a conversion is complete, you will receive an email notification that the conversion is complete. Log into Xero and follow the instructions to accept the subscription transfer. You will be prompted to select a subscription plan and enter your billing details before you can review your data.

What To Do After You Receive the Converted File

Before you begin working in Xero, you must verify that your data is correct. When reviewing your converted data, it is important that you don’t change/remove any of the following information:

Note: Changes made to any of this information can cause your financial statements to be inaccurate.

Below is a list of the key items you should review to ensure that your data transferred over correctly:

Verify that all bank and credit card accounts that were reconciled in QuickBooks are marked as reconciled in Xero. If you find that you need to reconcile a few items, instructions on how to do this can be found here.

Compare Trial Balance Reports – Run a trial balance report for the end of the current month in Xero and QuickBooks and compare them to ensure that they match. To run a trial balance in Xero, go to Reports>>All Reports>>Go to the Accounting Section>>Select Trial Balance Report.Note: The trial balance report is based on the accrual accounting method. Therefore, we recommend that you run the trial balance in QuickBooks using the accrual accounting method so that you can compare “apples to apples.” Otherwise, if you run a cash basis trial balance from QuickBooks and compare it to the accrual basis trial balance from Xero they will not match.

Find & Fix Unidentified Invoices/Bills – Sometimes invoices and bills will lose details during conversion; such as contact name. If this occurs, the invoices and bills will display under the contact name “No Contacts” in Xero. The best way to identify these invoices/bills is to run an accounts receivable aging report and an accounts payable aging report in both QuickBooks and Xero. In order for Xero to match QuickBooks, you will need to add any missing bills or add any missing invoices to Xero.

Start Working in Xero

After you have verified that your data was successfully converted to Xero, it’s time for you to get up to speed on how to use Xero! Lucky for you, we have created a free Xero course that includes step by step written instructions and video tutorials to show you how to do just about anything in Xero!

Since you converted your data as opposed to starting from scratch, you don’t have to go thru all 15 of the tutorials on How to Set Up Xero. However, I do recommend that you complete the following 5 lessons before you start working in Xero:

About the Author

Crystalynn Shelton

Crystalynn Shelton is a CPA and staff writer at Fit Small Business, specializing in small business Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Taxes. She is also an Adjunct Instructor at UCLA Extension where she has taught hundreds of small business owners how to setup and manage their books using QuickBooks for 8 years. Prior to joining Fit Small Business, Crystalynn was a Senior Learning Specialist at Intuit for 3 years and also ran her own QuickBooks consulting and training business. When Crystalynn isn’t writing or teaching, she enjoys rollerblading in Venice Beach and reading a good book.

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